Politicians influence police appointments: Jahid

KABUL (Pajhwok): Interior Minister Taj Mohammad Jahid on Sunday said political elites’ meddling in police postings and transfers was behind the force’s incompetence.

Jahid, the acting spy-master and the 101 Asmai Zone police commander Brig. Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahmani were summoned by the Meshrano Jirga to brief the senators on the country’s current security situation.

The security bosses were summoned days after 64 people were killed and hundreds others wounded in a devastating bombing on an elite security agency in the heart of Kabul.

Jahid vowed to appoint deserving individuals in police force and root out corruption within six months if politicians stopped interfering.

He the enemy had failed to reach their targets in the Omari offensive and sustained heavy losses in security operations underway in 10 provinces of the country. He said the operations were aimed at defeating the enemy and paving the ground for development.

The interior minister complained against corruption and inappropriate appointments in the ministry, saying officials hired as a result of nepotism had been unable to discharge duty with spirit and discipline.

When asked about negligence behind the dangerous attack on the VIP protection unit in Kabul, the minister said some committees had been formed and investigation into the incident was underway.

But some lawmakers claimed the attack on the elite security agency was carried with help from inside the facility.

Lawmaker Mohammad Alam Eyzedyar termed the security situation of the country as dangerous and said organised crimes such as kidnapping, robberies and armed attacks were on the increase in capital Kabul and no steps had been taken to prevent their growth.

Acting NDS Chief Massoud Andarabi told lawmakers that investigation into the recent bombing was underway but refused to share details in front of media due to sensitivity of the case.